Watch real Band 9 speakers in action in IELTS Speaking Part 1 and discover the exact techniques that will elevate your IELTS Speaking score.
Introduction
Are you preparing for IELTS Speaking Part 1 and wondering what a Band 9 performance actually looks like? Look no further. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll analyze real Band 9 speaking examples from successful test-takers, showing you exactly what examiners are looking for in Part 1 responses.
Unlike most resources that offer generic advice, we’ve compiled actual video examples and transcripts of high-scoring candidates, allowing you to see and hear Band 9 responses in action. These authentic examples provide insights that theoretical tips simply can’t match.
By the end of this article, you’ll understand:
- ✓ Exactly what examiners are evaluating in IELTS Speaking Part 1
- ✓ The ideal length and structure for Part 1 responses
- ✓ How to naturally incorporate advanced vocabulary
- ✓ Techniques to demonstrate fluency and coherence
- ✓ Real examples of Band 9 responses to common questions
Let’s dive in and decode what makes a Band 9 performance truly exceptional.
What Is IELTS Speaking Part 1?
IELTS Speaking Part 1 is a 4-5 minute conversation where the examiner asks you questions about familiar topics. These typically include:
🏠 Your daily routine
🌆 Your hometown/country
🎨 Your hobbies and interests
💼 Your work or studies
👪 Your family and friends
This section is designed to assess your ability to communicate in everyday situations using appropriate language. It’s essentially a warm-up that helps you settle into the test before the more challenging Parts 2 and 3.
What Examiners Look For in IELTS Speaking Part 1
Examiners evaluate your performance based on four criteria:
1. Fluency and Coherence: Your ability to speak at a natural pace without excessive hesitation, developing your answers logically.
2. Lexical Resource (Vocabulary): The range and accuracy of vocabulary you use.
3. Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Your ability to use varied grammar structures correctly.
4. Pronunciation: How clearly you speak and use features like intonation and stress.
Our Band 9 speakers excel in all these areas, as you’ll see in the examples that follow.
Common Misconceptions About IELTS Speaking Part 1 Responses
Before we analyze Band 9 examples, let’s clear up some misconceptions:
| Myth | Reality |
|---|---|
| ❌ You should give very short answers | ✓ While Part 1 doesn’t require extended responses like Part 2, one-sentence answers are insufficient. Aim for 3-4 sentences that fully address the question. |
| ❌ You need to use complex vocabulary for every answer | ✓ Natural, accurate language is more important than forcing complicated words. Band 9 speakers use sophisticated vocabulary when appropriate but prioritize natural communication. |
| ❌ You should memorize answers to common questions | ✓ Memorized responses sound unnatural and robotic. Examiners are trained to detect this and will change their questions if they suspect rehearsed answers. |
Now, let’s see what Band 9 responses actually look like in different question categories.
Sample Question Category 1: Daily Routine & Free Time
Example Question: “What do you normally like to do in your free time?”
Band 9 Response: “A lot of things actually. I think I’m someone who likes variety in everyday life, so just going out, checking out a new place or trying different activities, seeing my friends. Yeah, I try to keep busy on my days off.”
When further asked if she is very active in her free time:
“I’d like to think I am active, yes. If I have nothing to do, I just go to the gym or to the pool, read a book, but I try to do something with my free time.”
Why This Works:
- Natural flow – Sounds conversational rather than rehearsed
- Appropriate length – Provides enough detail without monologuing
- Personal touch – Shows personality with phrases like “I like to think I am active”
- Varied vocabulary – Uses phrases like “variety,” “checking out,” “keep busy”
Watch: This response in context (starts at 3:50)
Example Question: “How often do you listen to music?”
Band 9 Response: “I think I listen to music mostly when I’m driving. I think it puts me in such a good mood when I’m like out there on a drive and I play my favorite music. I’m usually into Afro music a lot, hip-hop and Afro and R&B. So I prefer listening to music when I’m driving or sometimes when I’m working out, I’m at the gym, something like that.”
Why This Works:
- Direct answer first – Immediately addresses “how often” with a specific context
- Natural elaboration – Explains when and why they listen to music
- Specific examples – Mentions genres they enjoy (Afro music, hip-hop, R&B)
- Additional context – Adds another situation (working out) where they listen to music
Sample Question Category 2: Preferences & Interests
Example Question: “Do you like art?”
Band 9 Response: “That’s interesting. Um, depends on what kind of art. I like cinema for instance, movies, music, but I don’t know too much about um paintings or modern art. I’m not too familiar with those, so it depends on what kind of art.”
Why This Works:
- Thoughtful response – Takes a moment to consider different forms of art
- Honest and specific – Acknowledges both what they like and don’t know much about
- Natural hesitation – Uses fillers like “um” naturally without affecting comprehension
- Open-ended conclusion – Leaves room for further discussion
Example Question: “What type of bags do you like?”
Band 9 Response: “I prefer purses that are a little bit on the larger side just because I like to put everything of my life in my purse. Um, so it ends up weighing maybe 20 kilos! Yeah, larger bags, probably structured larger bags.”
When asked about how often they carry a bag:
“Every day. I think that’s the case for most women. I think they carry a bag every day, even if you go down to the grocery or the supermarket, you take your bag with you usually.”
Why This Works:
- Specific preference stated – Immediately identifies preference for larger bags
- Adds humor – The line about the bag weighing “20 kilos” adds personality
- Natural phrases – Uses expressions like “everything of my life” that sound authentic
- Makes connections – Relates personal experience to broader observations about women
Sample Question Category 3: Home, Family & Background
Example Question: “Who was your favorite teacher in high school?”
Band 9 Response: “I think my favorite teacher in high school was Miss Malika. She was my second grade teacher, and I think she eventually, like at the later stages, she became my eighth grade teacher as well. So I was very familiar with her, and she remembered me, um, so we had good memories together.”
Why This Works:
- Specific name – Provides the actual name of the teacher
- Background details – Explains when and how long they knew the teacher
- Personal connection – Mentions the relationship aspect (“good memories together”)
- Natural speech patterns – Uses fillers and connectors (“I think,” “like,” “so”) naturally
Example Question: “Do you work or do you study?”
Band 9 Response: “I work actually. So I co-founded a startup; it’s called Secure My Scholarship. It’s an edtech platform that connects students with scholarships at universities around the world. So I work full-time, longer than full-time you may say.”
When asked what they love about their job:
“I love the impact that we create. So we give, you know, students that come from hardworking middle-class families or working-class families a chance at going to the university of their dreams, and personally, I love that about what we do.”
Why This Works:
- Enthusiastic tone – Shows genuine passion for their work
- Specific details – Names the company and explains its purpose clearly
- Values shown – Reveals personal values by mentioning impact and helping others
- Natural rhythm – Uses connectors like “so” and “you know” that create conversational flow
Watch: See this excellent response in context
The Perfect Answer Structure for IELTS Speaking Part 1
[Insert image of answer structure flowchart here]
Analyzing our IELTS Speaking Part 1 Band 9 examples reveals a consistent pattern in high-scoring responses:
- Direct answer – Begin with a clear, direct response to the question
- Reason/explanation – Explain why with a reason or additional context
- Example/elaboration – Add a specific example or further detail
- Optional extension – Sometimes add a brief related thought or observation
Let’s see this structure in action with a sample question:
Question: “Do you prefer to read e-books or paper books?”
Direct answer: “I generally prefer physical or hard copies.”
Reason/explanation: “Because I like the feel of the book being in my hand.”
Example/elaboration: “Especially because I use my phone daily for a lot of things, I would like to change up my routine every once in a while.”
Optional extension: “So a hard copy would feel like it’s a different vibe to my daily routine.”
This structure ensures you provide sufficient detail without rambling or going off-topic.
Common IELTS Speaking Part 1 Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)
Based on examiner feedback from our transcripts, here are common mistakes that prevent candidates from reaching Band 9:
1. One-word or minimal responses
❌ Weak response:
Q: “What do you study in university?”
A: “Marketing.”
✓ Improved response:
Q: “What do you study in university?”
A: “I’m studying MS in marketing. I chose this subject because analytics is big now. Big data is everywhere, and I had previous experience in SQL, so I decided to come here and study analytics.”
2. Listing without development
❌ Weak response:
Q: “What are your favorite foods?”
A: “I like pizza, pasta, burgers, and Indian food.”
✓ Improved response:
Q: “What are your favorite foods?”
A: “My favorite food will be Thai. I think that’ll always top my list, but I also like all kinds of Asian cuisines. I like Vietnamese food – they’ve got a soup called pho, and I also like Korean food. I don’t know how they’ve come up with kimchi. I really feel like it just blows my mind and it really ignites a lot of taste buds.”
3. Sounding rehearsed or robotic
❌ Weak response:
Q: “What do you do in your free time?”
A: “In my leisure time, I partake in numerous activities such as perusing literature and engaging in physical exercise. Additionally, I find great pleasure in socializing with acquaintances.”
✓ Improved response:
Q: “What do you do in your free time?”
A: “Since the past year, I haven’t really had too much free time. But usually, I just like to read, travel, talk to, like meet my friends, and I also volunteer during the weekends.”
4. Failing to extend answers appropriately
From examiner feedback in our transcripts:
“I often had to say like, ‘Why is this?’ So I said, ‘What are you studying?’ And you just said, ‘I’m studying this.’ ‘Why do you like that?’ So if we were having a normal conversation, no problem, because that’s totally normal to say that. But remember, you’re in a test and the examiner has to judge your pronunciation, your vocabulary, your grammar, your fluency, so with just a one-word answer, they don’t have enough data to go on, really.”
Advanced IELTS Speaking Part 1 Techniques from Band 9 Speakers
1. Natural Speech Markers
Band 9 speakers use conversational fillers and connecting phrases naturally:
- “I think…”
- “You know…”
- “Actually…”
- “Like I mentioned earlier…”
- “I’d say…”
- “To be honest…”
These phrases give you time to think while maintaining fluency. Notice this example:
“I think, to be honest, I’m quite sentimental and emotional, so I prefer more emotional, sentimental gifts.”
2. Idiomatic Expressions
Band 9 speakers naturally incorporate idiomatic expressions:
“I enjoy the heat and I also enjoy the humid, if I can say that.”
“I’m a jeans, light-wash or mid to light-wash denim jeans kind of girl.”
“It puts me in such a good mood when I’m out there on a drive.”
3. Precise Vocabulary
Notice how Band 9 speakers use specific vocabulary related to the topic:
When discussing art:
“It’s very subjective. Teaching basic theories about art and stuff like that, I feel like yes, it is sometimes necessary so people can understand, let’s say, basic concepts such as color theory.”
When discussing books:
“I generally prefer physical or hard copies because I like the feel of the book being in my hand, especially because I use my phone daily for a lot of things.”
Expert Tips from Real Examiner Feedback
On answer length in Part 1:
“Not too short, not too long… a good way to answer Part 1 questions is answer the question and then give a little bit more detail or an example or an explanation, just a little bit more information for the examiner to judge your answer on and understand your answer fully.”
On pronunciation:
“You use intonation extremely well. So we use intonation to convey meaning, for example, when you came in here today and I said ‘please sit down’ – very flat intonation going down. Do I sound happy or rude or serious? Yeah, a bit rude, a bit serious. But if I said ‘please sit down’ – my intonation is going up, sounds completely different, but the words are exactly the same.”
On not stressing about accent:
“You do have a hint of an accent, but it is extremely clear. Listening to you for anyone watching who has an Indian accent, they shouldn’t feel bad about it or anything like that. You shouldn’t try and remove your accent. I think it’s about speaking as clearly as possible.”
On sounding natural:
“When you’re under pressure on exam day, some students do this…which is, you list like lots of things… It is much better to pick one or two things and go deep on those things rather than go wide.”
Practice Exercise: Improve Your Part 1 Responses
Let’s practice transforming basic answers into Band 9 responses using the techniques we’ve learned.
Question 1: “What kind of movies do you enjoy watching?”
Basic answer: “I like action movies.”
Band 9 transformation: “I particularly enjoy psychological thrillers and mysteries because they keep me engaged and make me think. Films like Inception or The Prestige are favorites of mine – I love how they unfold layer by layer and often require a second viewing to fully appreciate all the details.”
Question 2: “Do you enjoy cooking?”
Basic answer: “No, I don’t cook much.”
Band 9 transformation: “I don’t personally cook for myself just because I wasn’t really into cooking. I do, however, like baking. I like to bake desserts like chocolate cake or cookies. Whenever I feel bored at home and there’s literally nothing to do, I find myself grabbing ingredients from the cupboards and just baking. It’s really fun, and the hard work I put into it versus the aftermath – I feel like it’s worth it.”
Question 3: “How often do you use the internet?”
Basic answer: “I use it every day.”
Band 9 transformation: “I think every day. We are all so addicted to the internet, aren’t we? I primarily use it for work and staying connected with friends and family. I find myself constantly checking my email and browsing news sites to stay updated with what’s happening around the world.”
🏆 Your Practice Challenge
Try creating your own Band 9 responses to these common Part 1 questions:
- “What do you do for work?”
- “Do you prefer living in a house or an apartment?”
- “What’s your favorite season of the year?”
- “How do you usually travel around your city?”
- “Do you enjoy reading books?”
Record yourself answering these questions, then listen back to identify areas for improvement.
Self-Assessment Checklist: How Band 9 Are Your Responses?
| Criteria | Yes/No |
|---|---|
| Do I answer the question directly first? | □ |
| Do I provide reasons or explanations for my answers? | □ |
| Do I include specific examples when appropriate? | □ |
| Do I use natural speech markers (you know, actually, etc.)? | □ |
| Do I vary my sentence structures? | □ |
| Do I sound natural rather than rehearsed? | □ |
| Do I use topic-specific vocabulary where appropriate? | □ |
| Do my answers generally take 3-4 sentences? | □ |
| Do I avoid listing without development? | □ |
| Do I speak clearly with good intonation? | □ |
Conclusion: Putting It All Together
Key Takeaways
- Provide sufficient detail without overextending
- Sound natural and conversational, not rehearsed
- Use a variety of appropriate vocabulary and grammatical structures
- Maintain a good pace with natural intonation
- Show personality while staying on topic
Remember
Reaching Band 9 in IELTS Speaking Part 1 doesn’t mean being perfect or speaking like a native English speaker. It means communicating effectively and naturally, demonstrating strong language skills across all assessment criteria.
Practice with the examples and techniques from this article, but also make sure to record yourself and listen back to identify areas for improvement. With focused practice and the right techniques, you can significantly improve your Part 1 performance.
Next Steps
Ready to see more Band 9 examples? Check out our videos analyzing Part 2 and Part 3 of the IELTS Speaking test, where we break down longer responses and discussion techniques.
Good luck with your IELTS preparation!
Did you find this article helpful? Let us know in the comments below which specific IELTS Speaking challenges you’d like us to address in future articles.
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